“You cannot help but fall in love.” – The Book Haven

READING THIS SERIAL SAGA IN ORDER HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

THE NEWSLETTER: Z Team, a.k.a Zed Company, is transferred to Jefferson Unit, which is being temporarily retired as an active hunter facility and converted to a research / training institution. Sol takes his first vacation – ever – leaving Glen in charge with Storm supervising. Rosie is proving to be an extraordinary little girl and Deliverance is in BIG trouble with her mother.

THE SURPRISES: Storm is really not himself. Former members of B Team must reunite to preserve his image and reputation. No one could have prepared for the surprises Rosie delivers.

THE ADVENTURE: The Ralengclan send a second wave assassination team to Jefferson Unit at the worst possible time, when it’s been left defended by only Z Team, Glen, the Lady Laiken, Sir Fennimore, and the trainees.

If you love romance, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, strong female leads, alpha males and complex storylines, this series is right for you. 17+

This music is an integral part of the story as you shall see. Listen before or after you read. Enjoy!

Gathering Stom as #1 Indie Read of 2013 by Book Haven

BOOK HAVEN’S REVIEW (by Leah Barbush)

You don’t read Victoria’s books, you experience them. The tapestry that Victoria has woven with these stories and people is so stunningly brilliant and at the same time rich with deep undertones that you cannot help but fall in love.

Victoria’s books get under your skin. They work their way into your heart and you fall in love…

in love with these honorable Knights and Ladies…

in love with the depth of love that is shared between husbands and wives…

in love with their too adorable babies…

in love with young men training and learning about honor…

in love with people who don’t know the meaning of the word…

The honor of these Knights, and Knights in training, is astounding. I finished this book through a haze of tears that I was constantly batting away so I could continue reading about some of my most favorite characters… no people, to call them characters cheapens the experience.

Then before you know it they get into your head and make you think…

This book has me thinking about honor and what it means to me and what I have passed on to my own sons… I believe if my sons were transported to this dimension they would be right at home with the Black Swans (especially my second son). And this is another reason I love these books, when I have read the last page I am no where near done…

Now I am going to go blow my nose and dry my eyes and meditate some more on honor and bravery and love.

“‘Tis a good thing that Stormy and I are the bad asses that put the bad in Bad Company, else the two of us might be intimidated by unhappy wives standin’ over us with mean faces and hands on delectably curvy hips.”

“I concur,” added Storm.

“You can concur until the cows come home Sir Storm, but you are still NOT playing in the Jefferson Unit Annual Rugby Match.” Litha’s voice was loud enough to make the babies get quiet and listen.

“Yeah. What she said.” Elora couldn’t really see what more could be added.

“We’re playin’.”

“We are.”

“You. Are. Retired!” Elora countered.

“Retired is no’ dead.”

“And I’d like to add that we retired early. Lots of active duty hunters are older than we are and they’ll be playing. There’s never been a match that didn’t have B Team represented and there’s not going to be one this year either.”

Elora huffed. “Since they retired B Team as a commendation to you…”

“And you,” Storm added.

“Thank you for the thought, but not really and I don’t think any of you would enjoy having me play. Stop trying to distract me. I’m in the middle of asking if you plan to still be repping for B Team when you’re ninety.”

The husbands looked at each other. They both sat on the sofa in Ram’s and Elora’s Jefferson Unit apartment with their arms crossed and looking like they had dug in to be stubborn.

“She might have a point,” Storm said to Ram.

“We’re no’ givin’ any points or any ground. With them ’tis always a slippery slope slidin’ toward capitulation.”

Storm looked at Elora. “We’re not ninety now. We’ll torch that bridge when we come to it. We’re not even nearing thirty. And we’re playing.”

“Aye. We are.”

Ram and Storm uncrossed their arms long enough to give each other a fist bump.

“Look,” Elora began, “you’re both young, strong, still in your prime and tough as they come.”

“We’re no’ fallin’ for the flattery approach.”

“I’m just saying that you’re also husbands and fathers with bones that can be broken and organs that can be ruptured.” Elora left out the part about how she also hated overhearing the female spectators objectifying her husband. She already knew that he was the stuff of nocturnal fantasy and didn’t need to have that driven home by listening to women talk about imagining him when they’re with somebody else. Ugh!

They were silent and resolute. Resolutely silent.

Litha whispered something in Elora’s ear and they withdrew to the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

“What do you think they’re doin’ in there?”

“I think they are saying that they will have better luck with a divide-and-conquer strategy.”

“Aye. ‘Tis my thought as well.”

“Pact?”

“Indeed.”

“Lust to dust.”

“Sperm to worm.”

“Womb to tomb.”

Elora whispered to Litha. “Quiet. Ram’s ears are amazing.”

“Then let’s duck out for a coffee. Or cocoa,” she corrected.

When Elora nodded, Litha closed her fingers around her fellow conspirator’s wrist and they popped into the lounge downstairs. The trip wasn’t far enough to disturb equilibrium. It was no worse than a fast elevator drop.

“It won’t hurt them to watch the babies for a little while.”

Elora chuckled. “Neat trick.”

They picked out two of the comfiest chairs, the ones that made sitting feel like a hug, and sat facing each other.

“Hmmm. Well, I’m thinking that we’re not going to get anywhere as long as they’re together. They’re feeding off of each other and ratcheting up the resolve. We need to interrupt that feed.”

“Brilliant. Let us have yummy drinks and then go to our separate bedrooms to see if we can’t get their arms uncrossed.”

Litha smiled knowingly and initiated a soft five.

“Does it strike you that they’re bein’ too quiet?”

“It’s your bedroom. You go check.”

Ram opened the door and said. “Great Paddy loves a fuck. They’re gone.”

“What?” Storm got up.

“Gone. G.O.N.E. As in your wife always brin’s an unknown factor to the mix. Great Paddy, I’m glad we were never assigned to hunt somebody like her.” Ram ran a hand through his hair and looked at Storm. “So. Guess who’s babysittin’?”

I am reading book 5 “Gathering Storm” for the second or third time and there is always one thing I’m confused about every time I read it. When Storm (Engle) was lost did he end up in Halcyon Dimension or another dimension with a similar Angel Storm from Halcyon? I ask because there is a scene where Angel Storm is confronted by his one night stand by the men’s room but she does not shoot him however when Storm makes it to the other dimension we learn that his “placeholder” has been killed after a similar encounter with a one night stand. Where I am confused is that then Angel Storm is picked up by Deliverance, how is that possible if he is dead?

You’re not the only person who has asked that question. You’re thinking that there are two dimensions referenced, Halcyon and Loti, but there is a third (unnamed) dimension mentioned. In that version of possibilities Engel Storm was killed outside a men’s room.